Actress Ha Young’s recent family history controversy has unexpectedly brought renewed attention to the 2012 KBS drama Bridal Mask, as some online users compare a fictional character from the series with details reported about her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho.
Bridal Mask, based on the comic of the same name by Huh Young Man, aired in 2012 and was set during the Japanese colonial period. The drama followed a masked figure who fought against collaborators and protected Korean citizens.
The series starred Joo Won and Jin Se Yeon and became one of the notable dramas of that year, recording ratings above 20 percent during its run.
The character now being discussed again is Woo Byung Joon, played by Kim Kyu Chul. In the drama, Woo Byung Joon is portrayed as a doctor who once treated Emperor Gojong before later becoming connected to Japanese colonial authorities.
The renewed comparison began after Ha Young spoke about her family background on KBS2’s Problem Child in House. She said, “My great-grandfather opened the first Western-style clinic in Hanyang and treated Emperor Gojong,” while describing several generations of doctors in her family.
Her great-grandfather, Ahn Sang Ho, was a physician active during the Japanese colonial period. Historical records cited in Korean media reportedly list him among members of the Taisho Friendship Association in 1916, a group that has been described in historical discussions as pro-Japanese.
Some online users therefore pointed out similarities between Ahn Sang Ho’s reported background and the fictional setup of Woo Byung Joon in Bridal Mask. However, there is no indication that the drama character was directly based on Ahn Sang Ho, and the comparison remains an interpretation being made online.
Additional attention has also focused on historical records stating that Ahn Sang Ho was among the medical staff who treated Lee Wan Yong after an assassination attempt in 1909. This detail has further fueled discussion surrounding Ha Young’s family history, although medical treatment itself does not by itself establish a person’s political position.
As the controversy continued, Ha Young issued an apology through her personal social media account.
She wrote, “The fact that I did not know about this does not mean I can ignore or take that history lightly. I take the past mistakes seriously and sincerely apologize as a descendant. I am especially sorry that my lack of awareness caused concern ahead of Liberation Day.”
With the issue continuing to attract attention, Bridal Mask has resurfaced in online discussions more than a decade after its broadcast, mainly because viewers see similarities between the fictional character’s background and the historical claims now surrounding Ha Young’s family.
